Last week, the Foundation Fighting Blindness and Oxford BioMedica announced that the first Usher Syndrome patient is about to be treated at Casey Eye Institute (OHSU) with Oxford’s UshStat gene therapy treatment.

The trial is aimed at patients with Usher Syndrome Type 1B, a form or retinitis pigmentosa that leads to blindness and hearing loss.

There is currently no treatment for this disease.

Based on laboratory pre-clinical studies, the researchers believe that a single UshStat treatment may last for several years, and perhaps for a lifetime.

In addition, Oxford BioMedica issued an update on all of its ophthalmic gene therapy programs, as part of its year-end report.